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87th ABW leadership institutes roll-call initiative

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class M. Ryan Throneberry
  • Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst Public Affairs
JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST, N.J. --  Enlisted service members within the 87th Air Base Wing headquarters building have been engaging in weekly roll calls to discuss hot-button issues and base news since mid-March.

The notion of roll calls is not new to the Air Force, but 87th ABW enlisted leaders believe it is a practice worth propagating.

"A roll call is really designed for supervisors at all levels from staff sergeants to chiefs, to keep our Airmen informed on current issues, dispel any rumors and to provide a two-way feedback forum," said Chief Master Sgt. Stephen Kazmirski, 87th Mission Support Group superintendent. "Most of all, it allows for face-to-face communication between leaders and their teams."

An Air Force-wide roll-call initiative began in 2006 under the instruction of then Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force Rodney McKinley with a one-page talking paper issued weekly.

Most joint base Airmen have attended either a wing-level enlisted call or commander's call, but not a roll call. While that forum is beneficial to disseminate information on a large scale, roll calls seek to inform a supervisor's or leader's direct work section or flight, said Kazmirski.

A wing-level enlisted call is attended by hundreds of Airmen whereas a roll call would only have 20 participants at most.

"Roll calls are, in my opinion, better in smaller groups," said Kazmirski, a Syracuse, N.Y., native. "This allows for Airmen to open up and ask the questions they wouldn't necessarily ask at a wing-level enlisted call."

Supervisors can look for discussion topics on the Air Force Portal, publications throughout the Air Force from personal interest or local happenings.

"Topics can come from anywhere," said the 87th MSG superintendent. "It could be a hot issue at the base, maybe something that was in the base paper or maybe something our commanders have asked us to put an emphasis on."

The weekly 87th ABW headquarter roll call features discussion topics straight off official Air Force sites as well as from comments and personal insight from participants.

"As I have only been in the operational Air Force for a little more than two months, I feel as though these weekly roll calls are beneficial to me," said Airman 1st Class Renna Yandon, 87th ABW Judge Advocate office military justice paralegal and Newcomb, N.Y., native. "Something I found to be very helpful was the discussion on finance and how best to deal with money issues. I also like the fact we discuss things affecting the overall Air Force which I don't think most young Airmen think about."

Supervisors have the option to hold roll calls as regularly as they like, but actually starting is key.

"The best time to get started is now," said Kazmirski. "There is something to be said about a time where a supervisor can look his or her Airmen in the eye and say 'these issues matter to me.'"